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Members of the 2010 class of the NIST Summer Institute for Middle School Science Teachers attending a presentation on cold neutron research at NIST. Eighteen teachers took part in the 2010 program.

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NIST

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is soliciting nominations of middle school science teachers from eligible U.S. public school districts or accredited private educational institutions to participate in the NIST Summer Institute for Middle School Science Teachers. The NIST Summer Institute provides hands-on activities, lectures, tours and visits with scientists and engineers in NIST laboratories.

The Summer Institute will be held at the NIST campus in Gaithersburg, Md., from July 18 to 29, 2011.

The two-week workshop is designed to increase teachers' understanding of the subjects they teach through exposure to the cutting-edge measurement science research pursued at NIST. The workshop provides teachers with instructional materials and ideas to use in their teaching, experience in how scientific research is carried out, and an opportunity to develop an ongoing network with the scientists and engineers at NIST. NIST provides a $2,000 stipend for teachers attending the workshop and travel and lodging funds for those traveling more than 50 miles to the workshop.

U.S. public school districts or accredited private educational institutions that offer science courses such as earth science, physical science, chemistry, physics and/or biologyat the middle school level (Grades 6-8) are eligible to nominate no more than one teacher per school for the program. Applications are due by 3 p.m. Eastern Time, on Thursday, March 24, 2011.

NIST also is soliciting nominations from school districts or educational institutions of middle school science teachers who have successfully completed the NIST Summer Institute to participate in the NIST Research Experience for Teachers (NIST RET) program. The NIST RET will allow the selected teachers to participate in scientific research with NIST scientists and engineers at the NIST campus in Gaithersburg, Md., that will encourage the teachers to inspire their students to pursue careers in fields of science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

Two selected teachers will work side by side with NIST research scientists during the summer of 2011 on projects that combine research with direct applications tailored to developing, maintaining, advancing and enabling the nation's measurement system. Each teacher selected from each successful applicant U.S. public school district or U.S. accredited private educational institution will receive $8,000 as a stipend; however housing and travel allowances are not provided. Applications for the NIST RET are due by 3 p.m. Eastern Time, Thursday, March 24, 2011.

Full details on program requirements, eligibility and the application process for both programs are available at Grants.gov. Search under CFDA (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance) number 11.609 (Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards) and Funding Opportunity Number 2011-NIST-SUMMER-INSTITUTE-01 or 2011-NIST-RET-01. More information on the NIST Summer Institute for Middle School Science Teachers is available at http://www.nist.gov/iaao/teachlearn/. Due to uncertainties in the FY2011 federal budget, both programs are contingent on available funds.